Atomizer



July 24, 1951 E L. HADDEN 2,561,570

AToMrzER Filed March e, 1947 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. 23u-Z Z/adduu wm m T AH m1 E L. HADDEN July 24, 1951 ATOMIZER 2 Sheets-Shee 2 FiledMarch 8, 1947 0% m wp m 6 MW m H MWPMA Patented July 24, `1951 l UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,561,57voV A'roMlznn Edward L. Hadden, Westfield,N. J. Application March 8, 1947"Sc1rial No. 733,266

o 4 claims. (ol. 299-88) My invention relates to that classof devicesdesigned to spray or atomize a fluid. Such a device is described in myapplication Serial No. 654.825, now abandoned, of which this `is acontinuation-impart. More particularly it relates i to the spraying ofthe nose or throat of a person. It is well known that the use of suchmedical means are clumsy, and in some cases offensive. Attempts havebeen made `to over come these objections, but only with partial success,as the proposed devices have one or more serious objections. Forexample, United States patent to Scott, No. 1,838,873, has that portionwhich is to be inserted in the nostrils, exposed at all times. Thus itwill become contaminated by the mucus from the nasal passage, and by thespray employed. This condition is unavoidable, the result being that itis unsightly and the clothing of the user may be soiled. o o

My invention has for its principal object to eliminate these objectionsby providing for a complete enclosure of the tip except when actually inuse thus insuring the production of a sanitary device..` I,

A further object is to construct an improved sprayer `which shallpresent a substantially identical resemblance in size and shape to afountain pen. In this manner I am able to avoid attention to theusersinrmity. A further object is to construct a sprayer which will deliver apredetermined measured quantity of fluid at eachstroke.

A further object is to accomplish the foregoing objects in a relativelysimple manner by prof viding `a construction which willnot easily g'et`out of order.

YMy means of accomplishing the foregoing `ob` jects may be4 more fullycomprehended by havo ing reference to the accompanying drawings whichare hereunto annexed and are a part of this'specication, in which:

Fig. 1` is a vertical sectional view vation of my improved'device;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 2 2 inthe direction of thearrows;

Fig. `3 `isa modified form of construction of the device shown in Fig.1, the cap, plunger, and spring being omitted for sakegof clarity;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified construction for an atomizer,the upper part being shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional 6 6 in Fig. 5;

partly in eleview `taken on the line Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken onthe line 6 1 in Fig. 5; i

Fig 8 is a view taken on the line 8 8 in the direction of the arrows,the cap being omitted; Fig; 9 `is a sectional view taken on the line 9 9in Fig. 9;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 9 IIJin Fig. 8, and f Fig.11 is a fragmentary view of a modied elements being omitted.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar 'parte throughout thespecification.

` As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings my invention comprises a barrel I.Thebarrel may if desired be made of a transparent plastic material so:the amount of fluid may be seen. This barrel is' provided with a cap 2,which is tele- 'sc'opically tted to it. The cap 2 being provided with`a` clip 3 to` attach the articletoausers garment.` 'The lower portionof the barrel I is provided with a filler plug 4, which is'shaped soa'sto provide" an appearance common to many fountain pens. A fluidreservoir 5 is provided in the lower part of the barrel I, and a pumpsimilar in function and operation to pumps which are known as adisplacementpump is provided to eject the fluid from the reservoir 5.This pump is mounted in a body or member B which is telescoped into anupper endl' of the barrel I. A cylinder'l is formed in this body 6. Inthe cylinder l, I mount a reciprocating piston 8; tothe lower portion ofwhich is secured a cup washer 9, whichis mounted upon an extension 4'Ion the end lof the piston 8. Below the piston 8 I mount a return springI0, as illustrated, the lower-portion of the spring I0 is broken away toshow how its end is bent diametrically across thehelix of the spring,the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. I

The piston 8 is provided with a piston rod 8' which telescopes anenlarged part I 2 of a push rod I I. At the upper end of the push rod IlI mountl a suitable push button I9, for the convenient manipulation ofthe piston 8. `At the lower end of the cylinder 1, I provide acylindriealrecess I3, smaller in diameter than the cylinder in which aball check valve is located. This valve consists of a ball I4, and acoil spring I5, adapted to cause the ball to contact the valve seat I6formed at the bottomof the cylindrical recess I3. This serves to holdthe valve normally closed; The lower end of the spring I0 serves as astop `for the upper end of the spring I5. Thisend ispreferably loopedover `the end of the flange 2l), which is adapted to press a gasketV 2iagainst the upper end of the body 6.

At the inner end of the bushing IB is formed a chamber 22 whichcooperates with Aa conoidal annulus 23 formed on the enlarged part I2 ofthe push rod II. This forms a valve the function of which is to preventoozing of the liquid,

but will permit the entrance of air to replace the discharged liquid.

The enlarged part I2, of the push' rod .II, should be made to t looselyin the cylinder to allow air to pass to a port or passage 24, whichprovides communication with a space 2.5 formed by atteningthe body B, asclearly seen in Fig. 2.

This space 25 opens into the upper part of the reservoir 5, but shouldnot extend above the barrel I. This effectually prevents any leakage andthus protects the users clothes.

A port'or passage 36 leads to an enlarged lower part formed by acircumferential groove 34, in a longitudinal chamber 3l `which is closedby a plug 29. This plug 1y so as to prevent any leakage. The plug 29 hasan upwardly extending portion 30, which forms a seat `28 for a ball 26of a secondary ball check valve. The ball is normally held to its seat28 by a coil spring 21. The upwardly extending portion 30 of the plug 29has an axial passage 32 which connects with the circumferential groove34,'formed on a reduced neck or stem 35. The groove 34 is incommunication through port or passage 3B, with the cylindrical recessI3, at the lower end of the .cylin'f der 1. Any suitable means oftightening or removing the plug 23 may be employed. As illustrated it isa slot 31.

.An upwardly extending longitudinal passage 39.

tube 3B is tted to the This tube is provided with a nozzle 39' which hasa capillary size open.

ing 40, through which the fluid is ejected.

In order to protect this' minute opening 40,1 form an inverted conoidalrecess 4I, in the end of the nozzle 3S', and the opening 40 is atitsapex. Thus should the user drop the device when the cap 2 is removed,nodamage will result. The cap 2 carries means to seal the nozzle whichconsists of a sealing plunger 42, the lower end 43 of which is fitted toland coincides with the surface of the inverted conoidal recess 4I. Thissealing may be omitted if desired to reduce the manufacturing cost. Theplunger 42 has a peripheral ilange 46 whichengages a member 45 fixedlymounted in the `cap `2. A coil spring 44, serves to hold the end 43yieldingly, but Atightly against its seat in the conoidal recess 4I.

, It may be found desirable in some cases to employ the modified form ofconstruction shown inl Fig. 3, which is identical with that shown inFig. l, with the exception of-certain details as follows: The tube 3B,is omitted and the body 6, is extended upwardly in its place. Thepassage 39 extends throughout its length. As illustrated a concavelongitudinal groove I9 is provided so the push rod II, and push buttonI9, may be 29 Should be fitted tight-` freely reciprocated.r A slightlydifferent form of orifice 5I) is shown in Fig. 3- Instead of thecylindrical recess I3, I form the cylinder 1 of the same diameterthroughout. The shoulder upon which the spring rests is formed by a tubewhich is slightly fitted into the cylinder bore. The suction tube I1, isextended upwardly, its end forms a seat for the ball I4.

The operation is as follows:

The movement of the piston 8 upwardly due to the action of the springIll will draw the liq- `luid past the check valve I4 into thecylinder 1. The push button is then depressed forcing the pis-ton 8downwardly. This closes the check valve I4 and the liquid (not shown) isforced through the port 36 into the annular chamber 34. The velocity ofthe liquid lifts the ball check valve 26 and the liquid enters thepassage 39, where it travels up through the tube 38, and is ejectd edthrough the orice in the nozzle, which preferably is of capillary sizein the form of a line mist or spray. The acceleration of the fluid inits passage operates to atomize it. k

In Figures 4 to l0, I have shown a modified form of construction of myinvention In these figures the cap 2 is screwed to the body 5I, in'stead of telescoping it. Obviously, any desired form of detachablysecuring the cap in place may be employed.

As shown the device yis provided with both an air duct 52 and a liquidduct 53 These ducts are preferably of capillary size. In Fig. 5 I showthe body 5I having an air cylinder 54, and the location of the two ducts52 and 53, I also in this form provide two flat sides 55 and 56, formedon the body 5I. These ats serve a double purpose, one-they materiallyreduce the dead weight of the device; andtwo-they increase the capacityof the reservoir. They extend from the lower end of the body 5I to apoint adjacent'the upper end of the barrel 51. A groove 58 providescommunication between the air duct 52 and the space formed by the flat'55. l. This groove is formed in ordei` that the displaced liquid `inthereservoir may be replaced by ain- 'Thefair will also operate totransmit some cfg-'the pressure produced by the pump onto the lsurfaceoff( the liquid, in this manner a hydrostatic pressure is produced whichresults in assisting theicapillary actionintubes 59and60. e l A In thedetail View Figure 6 is shownthe Vair pump cylinder. In it is mountedA aloosely Vlitting piston 62, which is carriedfby a'push" rod 6I, theupper end of which has a push button 6I' forv convenient operation ofthe piston.. The outer end of the push rod/6I carries ja flexible cupwasher 53, which abuts the pistonf62.jIt is held in place by means of awasher 64, and

a nut 65 mounted on threads 66,'. cut on. the end of the push rod 6I.The piston B2 isheld nor?. mally retracted by a spring 61. The lower endof the cylinder 54, is closed by a plug 68,` whichV has a centralopening. An annular groove ythis cut in the top of plug 58 to form a4seat-for'.the spring 61. The bottom of the plug 68` atthe centralopening is counter-bored to form ,afvalve seat 10 ,for a ball 1I of acheck valve. The ball 1I is held normally seated by means of a coilspring 13. This spring 13 is located in a socket 14 cut or cast in plug15 screwed into the lower end of the body 5I. This plugf15 is providedwith a series of radial grooves which affords pas.;

sage for the air to reach air duct 52-by means of an air port or passage11 castor formed in.

the body Means may be provided `to screw ,the plug""in1place,` as shownit consists of a lscrewizlriver slot, though obviously, any form ofconstruction may/be employed. A means of screwing plug 68 in place sprovided `byscrew 'driver slot `T2, as shown on the drawings; `An airhole 19 for the air tube 89 is formed inthe body 5|.

A' supplemental airsuction hole 8|, maybe formed if there isnotsullicient space intermedtA atethe push rod 6|, and the hole 82 inwhich it slides, otherwise hole 8| may be omitted.

In the detail view Figure 7, I have shown the manner in which the liquidduct may by-,pass the air pump. In this view I have omitted thepisvtonandrelated parts as they in no manner aid this view. I mount the liquidtube 59, in such a manner as to` provide a passage therefrom to theliquid duct 53, which is in communication with a liquid hole 83, `fromwhich it passes to capillary tube 99. A spray member 85 is screwed intointernal threads formed on the Wall of a hole 86 in the nozzle 84. Thismember 85 is bored to form a Venturi tube 81, which has a seatf at itsopen end adapted to receive the end 43 of the sealing plunger 42. Therim of the seat 88 will prevent damage to the Venturi tube should theuser drop the device. An anular groove 89 is formed on the threaded partof member 85. This groove 89 communicates with the-Venturi tube 81,through radial holes 99. l As illustrated I show two of these, it may befound in practicethat one is suilicient for the `desired purpose. Thetop of the capillary tube 69 is xed in nozzle 85, and is incommunication with the annular groove 89 by means of connecting holes 9|and 92. The upper end of the air tube 89 is fastened to the nozzle 84.

A port or passage 93 provides communication between the air tube 89 andthe hole 86, formed in the nozzle or spray member 85. It will beapparent to those skilled in .the art that I provide a continuous airpassage from inlet port 8| through the air pump, check valve, air port11, air duct 52, air hole 19, air tube 89, air hole 93, tapered hole inVenturi tube 81 where it escapes. The air is bled from the pressure sideof the system through groove 58 to the surface `oi the liquid in thereservoir where it replaces the exhausted liquid and provides for urgingthe liquid up the capillary tube 59 as hereinbefore explained.

It will also be obvious that there will be a continuous now of liquidfrom the reservoir through capillary tube 59, liquid duct 53, hole 83,capillary tube 69, holes 9| and 92, holes 99 into Venturi tube 81,whence it will be discharged as spray in predetermined quantities perstroke.

The operation is similar to that of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3.Pressure upon the push button 9| forces the air through the check valveup to air tube B9 and through the Venturi tube 81. At this point itsincreased velocity produces a partial vacuum in the holes 99. This actsto draw the liquid up the capillary tubes 59 and 69, into the Venturitube 81.

When the liquid reaches this point the air blast forceably discharges itin a spray formed of minute globules. By releasing the pressure uponpush button 6| the spring 61 operates t0 retract the piston 62 to itsnormal position. The movement of the piston in this direction causes theperipheral ange of the flexible cup washer to collapse and air will rushinto the system because of the partial vacuum produced by the return ofthe piston to its normal position.

The `operation maybe repeated as often `as desired. l

In Figure 11 I have shown a simplied form of construction. In this formI move the ball check valve 26 from its seat 28 on the plug 29, toI aseat |99, mounted in a sleeve I9I. This sleeve is se,- cured to thetube38, which telescopes it, and may be fastened in anysuitable andconvenient manner. Below this ball-check valve 26 and mounted in thesame sleeve |9| adjacent its end I mount the upper end |92 of a tube |93which depends downwardly into the reservoir 5, a ball l M exactlysimilar in function, manner of functioning and result produced to ballI4 shown in Figure 1, is tted to aseat |95 formed on the end of tube|93. I provide a port orpassage |06 similar to the passage 36. Practicehas shown this form is easier and less expensive to manufacture, thanthe oneshown in the other figures. l Although I have described checkvalvesI of the ball type, it: will be clear that any form of check valvemay be employed. The operation of this'form is not materially differentfrom the description herein beforeset forth. The upward movement of thepiston will unseat the ball |94 and the liquid (not shown) will be drawnup into the lower part of the sleeve |0I,.and vthence through the portor passage |96 into the cylinder 1. Depressing the push button |19 willforce `the liquid out through port |96, and willseat the ball |94 in thelower part of the sleeve, then `will travel upwardly lifting the ballcheck valve 26 .from its seat, thus permitting the liquid to enter thepassage 39. It will then continue to travel upwardly and be ejected outthe oriiice in the nozzle. As explained this orifice is of such size asto cause the liquid to be ejected in the form of a line mist or spray.Practice has shown that the acceleration of the liquid in its passageoperates to atomize it where it vtravels up through the tube 38, and isejected through the orice in the nozzle, which preferably is ofcapillary size in the form of a ne mist or spray. The acceleration ofthe uid in its passage operates to atomize it.

Should the user wish a larger proportion of liquid he may obtain thisresult by inverting the atomizer, this will cause the liquid to flowinto the space formed by the ilat 55, and hence through groove 58 intothe air duct.

If pressure is then applied to the push button 6|' the liquid will beejected by the air pressure through the Venturi tube 81 in almost asolid stream. In this manner attaining the desired result.

It will be clear to persons who are skilled in the art that although Ihave described many specific details of construction, I do not wishthereby to limit myself thereto except as such limitations may appear inthe hereinafter contained claims.

Having described my invention, what I regard as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described a barrel, a body portiontherein which extends downwardly for a portion of the length of saidbarrel leaving a space below its lower end which constitutes areservoir, said reservoir being adapted to hold fluid, said body portionhaving a cylinder formed therein, a reciprocating piston in saidcylinder, means including a rod to actuate said piston, guide means forsaid rod, resilient means to hold said piston normally retracted, meansformed in part on said piston and in part on said guide means adapted toadmit air to the reservoir on a delivery stroke of the piston to replacefluid and to seal said cylinder when the piston is in returned position,a tubular conduit in said barrel offset but generally parallel totheaxis of the cylinder in said body and extending downwardly to a regionadjacent the lower end of said reservoir and upwardly to a region abovethe upper end of the body, a delivery nozzle at the upper end of saidconduit having a discharge opening in substantial axial alignment withthe axis of said barrel, said conduit being in fluid communication withthe lower end of the said cylinder, and valve means in said conduitoperatively responsive to reciprocation of the piston to pass uid fromthe reservoir to the cylinder on an upward stroke of the piston and fromthe cylinder through the said nozzle on a downward stroke of the piston.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a cap member constructed andarranged to enclose said nozzle and the said barrel when thedevice isnot in use and means in the cap adapted to seal the opening in thenozzle against leakage.

3. In a device of` the character described a barrel, a body portiontherein which extends downwardly for a portion of the length of saidbarrel leaving a space constituting a reservoir for a liquid medium, acylinder in said body, a. reciprocable piston therein, a push rod whicheX- tends upwardly beyond said body for actuating the piston, means tohold said piston normally in an upward retracted position, a sleevemember disposed within the barrel in substantial parallelism with theaxis of the cylinder in the said body, there being a fluid passagewaybetween the interior of the sleeve at a medial region thereof and theinterior of the cylinder at the lower end thereof, a conduit meansextending from the lower end of the sleeve to the lower portion of thereservoir, a second conduit means extending upwardly from the sleeve andabove the body portion adapted to mount a delivery nozzle, and valvemeans in the sleeve responsive to movement of the piston on itsretracting stroke to pass fluid from the reservoir into the cylinder andon its pressure stroke to pass uid from the cylinder through saidupwardly extending conduit means. 4. The combination of claim 3including means operatively associated with said piston to admit air tothe reservoir on a pressure stroke of the piston and to seal thecylinder against leakage at the end of a retracting stroke of thepiston.

EDWARD L. I-IADDEN.v

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis :patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 441,969' Pitney Dec. 2, 18901,585,798 Stiriss May 25, 1926 1,632,218l Chan et al June 14, 19272,078,483 De Weal et al. Apr. 27, 1937 2,081,674 Mehrman et al. May 25,1937 2,162,756' Seyforth June 20, 1939 2,211,595 Crowley Aug. 13, 19402,348,190 Bullock May 9, 1944

